Glossary of Skating Terms

Whether you are new to figure skating or a seasoned competitor, understanding the technical terminology used in equipment discussions will help you make informed decisions. Below is an alphabetical glossary of common terms you will encounter when shopping for boots, blades, and accessories.

Blade Guard

A hard plastic cover that snaps over the blade runner to protect the edge when walking off the ice. Blade guards should be used on hard surfaces but removed for storage — use soakers (soft, absorbent covers) instead to prevent moisture buildup. See our blade protection and care guide.

Counter Sunk

Refers to screw holes in the blade chassis that are beveled so that the screw head sits flush with or below the surface. Counter-sunk mounting holes prevent screw heads from protruding and interfering with blade performance.

Edge

The sharpened sides of the blade runner. Each blade has two edges — an inside edge (toward the arch of the foot) and an outside edge (toward the little toe). Virtually all figure skating elements are performed on one edge or the other.

Freestyle

A discipline of figure skating that includes jumps, spins, and footwork sequences. Freestyle boots and blades are designed with higher stiffness and larger toe picks to support the demands of jumping and landing.

Hollow (Radius of)

The concave groove ground into the bottom of the blade runner during sharpening. The radius of hollow (commonly 7/16" to 5/8" for figure skaters) determines how deep the groove is, which affects grip on the ice and glide speed. A smaller radius means deeper edges and more grip; a larger radius means shallower edges and more glide.

Hook

A small curved extension at the very back of some blade runners, below the heel. Hooks are used in certain ice dance and moves-in-the-field techniques. Not all blades have hooks.

Mounting

The process of attaching blades to boots using screws drilled through the blade chassis into the boot sole. Proper blade mounting requires precise alignment and is best performed by a qualified technician. See our FAQ for more information.

Parallel Blade

A blade design where the runner maintains a consistent width from front to back, as opposed to a tapered blade. Parallel blades provide a larger contact surface with the ice.

Pick (Toe Pick)

The serrated teeth at the front of a figure skating blade. Toe picks are used to initiate jumps, perform spins, and execute certain footwork elements. Pick size and shape vary by blade model — larger, more aggressive picks are designed for advanced jump techniques. See also: Toe Pick.

REV / Revolution

A carbon fiber chassis technology that replaces the traditional metal sole plate of a blade with compression-molded carbon fiber composite. REV reduces weight and provides thermal insulation from the ice. Read our full REV carbon fiber blades guide.

Rocker (Radius)

The gentle curve along the length of the blade runner from toe to heel. The rocker radius determines how much of the blade contacts the ice at any given time and affects maneuverability, stability, and spin characteristics. A smaller rocker radius means more curvature and greater agility; a larger radius means a flatter blade and more stability.

Side-Honed

A finishing process where the sides of the blade runner are ground smooth and flat. Side honing ensures clean, consistent edges and is a hallmark of premium blade finishing.

Stanchion

The vertical supports that connect the blade chassis (sole plate) to the runner. Stanchions transfer forces from the boot to the blade edge and play a role in the blade's overall rigidity and responsiveness.

Stiffness Rating

A numerical value indicating how rigid a boot is. Higher numbers mean stiffer boots, suited to heavier or more advanced skaters needing greater support for jump landings. Each brand runs its own scale and they are not interchangeable — EDEA calls it stiffness and rates 40–95; Jackson calls it a Support Rating and rates 2–95. A Jackson 45 supports roughly what an EDEA 55 does. See our support and stiffness guide.

Tapered Blade

A blade design where the runner narrows from front to back. Tapered blades reduce weight and can affect the skater's balance point and edge feel compared to parallel designs.

Technomicro

EDEA-specific. EDEA's proprietary microfiber used in place of traditional leather for boot construction — lighter, more consistent, water-resistant and more durable than natural leather. Learn more in our EDEA boots guide. Jackson's equivalent synthetic uppers are its cut-resistant microfiber, often treated with Dura-guard.

Thermoformable

Describes a boot material that can be reshaped with heat to conform to the skater's foot. EDEA uses a thermoformable tri-layer construction shaped with a heat gun; Jackson alternates split-leather panels with heat-moldable material containing surlyn, and heats the whole boot in a convection oven. See our heat molding guide.

Toe Pick

See Pick above.

Width (B/C/D/E)

Boot width sizing. EDEA uses B (narrow), C (standard), D (wide) and E (extra wide). Jackson uses Regular (A/B) and Wide (C/D) in its women's and misses lines, and Medium and Wide (C/D) in men's and boy's. The letters are not a shared system between brands. See Boot Sizing Guide.

Chassis

The structural body of a blade — the sole plate and stanchions that hold the runner at the correct height. Traditionally forged steel; modern alternatives include aluminium (Jackson Matrix) and carbon fibre (REV, Phoenix).

Cross Cut / Straight Cut / Diagonal Cut

Jackson's three toe pick geometries. Diagonal Cut has the lowest drag tooth and lift angle, getting you to the pick fastest on take-offs. Straight Cut sits higher with a bigger second pick, favouring take-off stability and easier spins. Cross Cut has the highest lift angle and drag tooth of the three, best for spins and Axel take-offs, and the most forgiving if you catch your pick too early. See Jackson blade technology.

Drag Tooth

The lowest tooth of the toe pick, which contacts the ice first. Its height and angle affect how easily you can reach the pick on a take-off and how a spin enters.

Dura-guard

Jackson's protective microfiber, which shields the boot against blade contact — cut protection rather than general wear resistance.

Flex Notch

A notch in Jackson boots that minimises ankle and knee strain on forward flex while improving stability, letting the boot bend forward without giving up lateral support.

Fusion Sole / PBX Sole / LCF

Jackson's three sole constructions. Fusion is a lightweight nylon composite with a rubber non-slip blade mount. PBX is a three-piece design with ABS heels engineered for screw retention. Leather Carbon Fiber (LCF) is 15% lighter than a leather cork composite sole. You do not choose the sole — it comes with the model.

Last

The form a boot is built around, which determines its shape. Jackson uses two: the Elite Performance Last (rounder toe box, narrower heel, competitive fit) and the Adapted Width (AW) Last (more relaxed, particularly through the arch).

RXS (Replaceable Runner)

Jackson's system for replacing the runner of a Matrix blade without replacing the blade or remounting it. The runner is held by two torqued screws through the chassis plus an interlocking joint, and swaps in seconds.

Size Run

A range of sizes sold as a set, used by Jackson: Tot's, Youth, Misses, Boy's, Women's and Men's. Runs overlap and the Misses and Boy's runs restart at 1 after 13, so the same number can mean very different boots. See Jackson Boot Sizing.

Support Rating

Jackson's scale for boot rigidity, running from 2 to 95 with named tiers — 35 Moderate, 60 Firm, 75 Strong, 85 Premium, 95 Ultimate. Not interchangeable with EDEA's stiffness numbers. See Stiffness Rating above.

Surlyn

The heat-sensitive material in Jackson's intermediate and elite boots that makes heat molding possible.

Synchro (Synchronised Skating)

A discipline in which a team skates as a formation. It has its own equipment requirements — Jackson's Apex Synchro is a blade built specifically for it.

Temporary Mount

A blade fitted with a partial set of screws so the position can still be adjusted after test skating. Not a finished mount — the remaining screws must be installed before regular training. See Blade Mounting & Screws.

Further Reading

Explore our full FAQ for answers to common questions, or dive into specific topics like blade materials and REV technology.